noun

triceratops

treye-SEH-ruh-tops

Triceratops (noun) means a large plant-eating dinosaur from the late Cretaceous period, known for its three facial horns and bony neck frill. Example: “The museum's new exhibit features a full triceratops skeleton.”

noun

A large plant-eating dinosaur from the late Cretaceous period, known for its three facial horns and bony neck frill.

"The museum's new exhibit features a full triceratops skeleton."

How to use triceratops

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA three-horned, plant-eating dinosaur that lived alongside T. rex.

Word forms

triceratops plural, triceratopses plural

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The museum's new exhibit features a full _____ skeleton.

Etymology

From Greek treis ("three") + keras ("horn") + ops ("face") — literally "three-horned face."

Origin: Greek

Frequently asked questions

What does “triceratops” mean?

The word “triceratops” means a large plant-eating dinosaur from the late Cretaceous period, known for its three facial horns and bony neck frill. In plain terms, a three-horned, plant-eating dinosaur that lived alongside T. rex.

How do you pronounce “triceratops”?

“Triceratops” is pronounced treye-SEH-ruh-tops (/tɹaɪˈsɛɹətɒps/ in IPA).

How do you use “triceratops” in a sentence?

Here is “triceratops” used in a sentence: “The museum's new exhibit features a full triceratops skeleton.”

What part of speech is “triceratops”?

“Triceratops” is a noun.

Where does the word “triceratops” come from?

The word “triceratops” comes from Greek. From Greek treis ("three") + keras ("horn") + ops ("face") — literally "three-horned face.".